Horse hay-rake



(No Model.) 8 I 4 Sheets-Sheet A. P. FAIROHILD 1 HORSE HAY RAKE.

No. 385,604. Patented July 3, 1888.

o lson Fcpiichild;

I WITNESSEK %J N PETERS. Phow-Lllho nphen Washmgwn. n c

i (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. F. PAIROHILD.

HORSE HAY RAKE. v No. 385,604. P tented July- 3, 1888.

LN' VENT 0B1,

WITNESSES,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

. A. F. FAIROHILD.

HORSE HAY RAKE.

No. 385,604. Patented July 3, 1888 dlsonFFairckz lok IN VEJV'TOR W I TN ESSES,

N, Pnzns. Plmlohlhograplmr. Washlngkun. In;

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. F. FAIRUHILD.

HORSE HAY RAKE.

(No Model.)

Patented July 3, 1888 WnwEssEs.

N PETERS, Photo-Lithographer, Washingwn. D C,

NITED STATES ALSON F. FAIRCHILD, OF MEGHANICSVILLE, IO\VA.

HORSE HAY RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,604, dated July 3, 18188.

Application filed February 16, 1888. Serial No. 264,258. No model.) I

To etZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALsoN F. FAIROHILD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mechanicsville, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Rakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in horse hay-rakes; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts thereof, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a rake with gangs of curved rake-teeth having a central intervening space between them, combined with revolving rakes provided with spring-actuated teeth coacting with conveyers to carry the bay to the middle intervening space to form a windrow.

The secondary object of my invention is to provide a rakeof the characterset forth, wherein the mechanism is of simple and effective construction and operation, strong and durable, easily handled and readily understood, positive in its result, and cheaply manufactnred.

I attain these objects by the preferred form of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my improved form of rake. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view ofpart of the mechanism. Fi 5 is a perspective view of a part of my improved rake, showing one set of the cleaner-rods and the manner of attaching the same. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation, partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Thedraft-frame consists of the two cross bars G G, connected by side bars, F, which extend to the rear and provide a bearing for the axle E, which has wheels A mounted on the ends thereof. The thills I are attached and braced to the cross-bars G, as shown.

On the middle portions of the side bars, F, brackets or standards J are secured, which have bearings formed at their upper parts for the trunnions of the rake-head B, which extends entirely across the machine.

The rake-head B has two gangs of curved rake-teeth, L, secured thereto at their upper ends, as fully shown in the drawings. The rake-teeth L have an intervening middle space between them, over which projects the seatbar H, which is secured at its forward end to the cross-bars G, and at its rear end carries a seat for the drivers use, as fully shown.

The rake-head B has a depending lever or bar, l),secured th ereto, which is slightly curved to the rear at its lower end for the purpose of engagement by the drivers foot to press the said bar in such a manner as to cause the raketeeth L to extend firmly down against the ground. Said rakehead also has a hand-lever, G, secured thereto, which extends to the rear, adj acentto the drivers seat, and is adapt ed to rock the rake-head and to raise the teeth carried thereby from the ground, as desired.

Upon the revolving axle E a frame is sooured having the end bars, V, united by aperturcd cross'bars K. This frame is substantially rectangular in form, and, if so desired, bars similar in arrangement and construction to the end bars, V, maybe arranged at intervals between thelengths of the cross-bars K to further brace the revolving rake-frame, as just described. The cross-bars K are secured to the end bars, V, at a short distance inward from the ends of the arms, as fully shown in the drawings.

I preferably use four cross-bars, K, arranged in longitudinal parallel pairs on each side of and parallel with the shaft E, and provide a support for spring'actuated rake-teeth M. The frame composed of the crossbars K, having end bars, V, together with the raketeeth M, form a revolving rake having a relative action with the rake'teeth L.

As hereinbefore set forth, all of the cross bars K are apertured and the teeth M are movable therethrough.

Between the pairs of cross-bars K, and encircling the rake teeth M, sliding in the bars K, coiled springs V are mounted, having hearing at one end against the inner bar 'of each pair of said bars and at their opposite ends attached to the teeth M. The springs \V at all times have a tendency to project the teeth M an equal distance from the outer bars, K. The outer ends of the said rake-teeth M are slightly curved or bent, as shown in Fig. 3, in a reverse direction to the line of rotation of said teeth, and thereby allow the hay to readily clear itself therefrom.

Upon the axle ll, adjacent to the ends thereof and outside of the end bars, a suitable bevel or miter gear. Q, is mounted, which meshes with a similar gear, Q, on the rear end of a counter-shaft, S, which has bearing in the frame of the machine and in the box g, secured to the side bars, F. The shaft runs through the outer end of a conveyer-frame, P, and the frame carries a roller at the opposite end thereof and overa suitable roller mounted on the shaftS, and overthe roller, at the opposite end of the frame, asjust described, a conveyer belt or apron, O, is mounted, having suitable teeth, 0, arranged thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 1. This conveying-apron and the frame therefor are arranged at a downward incline from the ends of the machine to the open space hereinbefore set forth, and is provided with a front shield-board or extension, P, which prevents the hay from being thrown over the top of the said conveyingapron.

The frame is supported by stay-rods 1), attached to the guard 1? thereof and to the beam G of the frame of themachine, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The conveyer-frames are downwardly inclined toward the middle intervening space between the gangs of raketceth L for the purpose of making the formation of a windrow more effective and certain, and at the same time decrease the resistance of the weight of hay or straw on the conveyor belts or aprons, which would be considerably less in a downward movement than in a horizontal movement.

Secured to the said conveyerframe P, at its rear side and fol lo wi ng the inclination thereof, are aseries of iron wires or rods, N, which are curved and run around the revolving raketeeth for the purpose of clearing the said raketeeth.

WVith each of the wheels A, mounted upon the axle E, is a suitable spring-actuated clutch, F, of any preferred form of construction, which has a cord. chain, or wire cable, F secured thereto, which passes under the end or side bars, F, and over a sheave or pulley, f, secured to the inner side of said bar, and thence up over the rake-head, where it is secured. The clutch releases or engages the operating mechanism from the ground-wheels A, which will either cause a cessation or continuation of operation.

The operation of my improved rake is as follows: The clutches F being in connection with the wheels A, causes the rake-teeth M and their carryingframe to revolve, taking up the hay collected by the rake-teeth L. When the said revolving rake elevates the hay, it throws it upon the conveying belt or apron O, which in turn carries it down to the middle space between the rakes. This operation causes the formation of the windrow, as will be readily understood. When the raketeeth M strike any inequalities or stones, they yield themselves to said inequalities through the spring-connections, and by said construe tion are prevented from breaking. When the rake-head B is raised, the movement thereof draws upon the cord F, which in turn draws the clutches F away from the wheels A on the axle E, and the rake-teeth M and their carrying-frame are caused to cease revolving.

The cheapness of construction of my improved rake, together with its effectual operation in the formation of a windrow in the central portion thereof, renders it of great value and utility.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a horse hay-rake, the combination, substantially as set forth, of the draft-frame having a rotatable axle with ground wheels thereon, the rake-head having gangs of raketeeth with an intervening middle space between the same,the revoluble frames carrying spring-yielding rake-teeth secured to said axle, the conveyingaprons arranged at right angles to the line of draft and inclined downward toward the middle intervening space between the gangs of raketeeth, to convey the hay thereto to form a windrow, and means for revolving said axle and aprons.

2. In a horse hay-rake, the combination, substantially as set forth, of the draftframe carrying a rotatable axle with suitable groundwheels on the ends thereof, the rake-head supported by suitable brackets above the draftframe and having gangs of rake-teeth secured thereto and arranged with an intervening middle space between the same, the rakeframe secured to the axle in front of the aforesaid gangs of rake teeth, carrying springyielding rake-teeth, the inwardly-projecting downwardly-inclined aprons adapted to de posit the hay to forma windrow in the middle space between the gangs of rake-teeth, the clearer wires or rods secured to the rear sides of the frames of the conveying-aprons and encircling the revolving rakes between their teeth, and means for revolving said axle and the aprons.

3. In a horse hay-rake, the combination, substantially as set forth, of the gangs of raketeeth having an intervening middle space be tween them, revoluble rakes in front of said gangs, and conveying-aprons in front of the revoluble rakes arranged at right angles to the line of draft.

4. In a horse hay-rake, the combination,

IIO

substantially as set forth, of the draftframe, the rotatable axle carrying ground-wheels, the rake-head carrying gangs of raketeeth with an intervening middle space between them and adapted to be raised and lowered by a lever adjacent to the drivers seat, the revolving rakes having spring-yielding teeth, conveying-aprons acting to deposit the hay in the middle space between the gangs of teeth, the clutches on the axle adapted to engage the ground-wheels, and a cord secured at its lower end to the said clutches passing over a sheath or pulley and secured at its upper end to the rake-head.

5. In a horse hay-rake, the combination, substantially as set forth, of the draft-frame, the gangs of rake teeth with an intervening middle space between the same, the rotating axle, the revolving rakes mounted thereon, the bevel or miter gear mounted upon the said axle, a counter-shaft journaled in the draftframe and carrying at its rear end a similar miter-gear meshing with the bevel onmiter gear upon the axle and at its front end extending through the conveyer-frames and carrying a roller therein, the conveyer-frarnes arranged at right angles to the line of draft having rollers in their inner ends, the front shields for said fran1es,and the conveying-aprons traversing said frames.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALSON F. FAIROHILD. Witnesses:

T. H. WILLIAMs, E. S. JAMES. 

